Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn head coach Valerien Ismael bemoaned the manner in which his side were beaten 1-0 by QPR as they lost at home for this sixth time in the Championship this season.

"It was a typical 0-0 game, I would say," he told BBC Radio Lancashire. "We've got the better chances before 1-0, first half and especially second half - their goalkeeper made a big save.

"Then we give the goal away. That's the big frustration for me. The boys need to learn, at least keep the point - so many games, every point counts. We gave the goal away, it was too cheap.

"This one is painful. The feeling is that we are not going forward. A big disappointment about the performance and how we gave the ball away.

"We will go again, but the main problem is we are not winning at home. Today is completely unnecessary. Every time it is a tight game we are not able to take the points and to stay calm. At some point we need to have a turnaround at home or it will be difficult.

"Nobody wanted to take responsibility. At some point when we played forwards it was much better. I don't know why the players don't always try to do that because that is our game."

Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael says he is relieved to have the club's academy players ready to step into the first team.

Defender George Pratt made his debut in last Friday's 2-1 derby win at Preston having been recalled from a loan spell with Chorley of the National League North.

That followed a debut for teenage goalkeeper Nicholas Michalski earlier this season, while midfielder Kristi Montgomery was handed a first start under Ismael towards the end of last season.

"Before I signed here it was about creating a pathway for the young players - we have made it already with Michalski, Montgomery and now with George Pratt which is good," the Rovers head coach told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's a message to everyone at the club that if you're ready to perform, able to give what we want to see on the pitch you will get the chance - if you have a lot of players injured you are going to need your academy and at the minute it's good to have that possibility."

Blackburn have been dealt an injury blow ahead of Wednesday's home game with QPR (19:45 GMT) with midfielder Sondre Tronstad out for two weeks.

"He has a problem with his ankle. It was really swollen after the game (against Preston)," said Ismael.

"Taylor Gardner-Hickman will come back from suspension to replace him in the squad. It's frustrating because we can't get the consistency for the players to play in the same line-up."

Rob Heckingbottom
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Living in the Lakes means every trip back to Blackburn feels ever more of a journey.

Listening to all the talk on the way down the night before the derby at Preston, it was all about injuries and a makeshift team.

Valerien Ismael's approach feels almost utilitarian - system first, individuals second.

I understood not putting George Pratt in for the previous match against Derby, but seeing him start this one raised eyebrows.

Cut to being there on Friday night at Deepdale under the lights - I'd not seen us win there before. I missed the 4–1 win but I've seen a few draws and seen us end up losing 3-2 from being 2-0 up.

But credit where it's due, the performance was up there, and I came away struggling to pick one player to single out.

As much as Ryoya Morishita grabbed the man-of-the-match award, for me Ryan Hedges, Lewis Miller, and Sondre Tronstrad deserve honourable mentions.

Sondre was back to his best, organizing the back line. Miller gave us a point-blank goal despite still probably not unpacking his Aussie bags from international duties. And Hedges? He embodies the manager's plan and does the hard work well.

Andri Gudjohnsen looks like a proper number nine. He's always in the right place, and if he keeps this up, his numbers could be impressive.

Positive signs too from Moussa Baradji, who made a brief appearance and showed glimpses of real potential, though he needs time.

And maybe Todd Cantwell soon? If we can maintain this level, we could navigate the unexpected changes well.

Lots of games ahead, lots of positives - and finally, a win at Deepdale to savour.

Blackburn have won four of their past five Championship matches heading into their meeting with QPR on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

But Rovers have lost out of three at home and come up against a QPR side beaten just once in their previous six road trips.

• None of the past 15 league meetings between Blackburn and QPR have been drawn, with Rovers winning 10 of those (L5).

• QPR have lost seven of their past eight away league games against Blackburn, with the exception being a 2-1 win in February 2024.

• Only Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich have lost more home league games than Blackburn (5) in the Championship this season, with Rovers' only home win coming against Southampton last month.

• Having conceded nine goals in their first two away league games this season, QPR have conceded just four in their subsequent six on the road.

• Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael has won five of his six league games against QPR (L1), including all three at home by an aggregate score of 9-1.

Adam Cottier
BBC Final Score reporter

"We play with energy and this is our DNA."

A line that stood out from Valerien Ismael's post-match debrief with BBC Radio Lancashire.

This, following a gutsy, high-octane performance that yielded a fifth away win this season for his Blackburn Rovers side.

Why Rovers have been far better away from home under Ismael can - and will - be hotly debated by their supporters ahead of a home game with QPR on Wednesday.

It's a game that will almost certainly be played in a less fervent atmosphere than the one that greeted Rovers at Deepdale, home to a team enjoying their best start to a season for six years. Blackburn seemed to thrive off the energy from the crowd here, swelled by some 5,000 of their own.

Ismael showed guts himself. With Rovers' defence decimated by injury, he chose to hand a debut to defender George Pratt, a 22-year-old who, 13 days prior, had been completing a loan spell at sixth-tier Chorley. The academy graduate didn't let his manager down, making an outstanding senior debut.

Image source, Getty Images

At the other end of the pitch, Yuki Ohashi exuded the rich tenacity that has become a hallmark of his game, a driving force and constant pest to the opposition. In Andri Gudjohnsen - the match-winner here - Rovers have a player growing well into English football, his goals tally now escalating encouragingly.

There were many standout performers in this local derby - willing runners, desire in abundance and two outstanding goals, both from set-piece situations.

Ismael will now want more consistency and that means rectifying the home form that contributed to Rovers being in the bottom three in the non-too-distant past.

The fact the win at Preston moved Rovers closer to the top six than those relegation places is a testament to Ismael's perseverance and adaptability with this group of players, many of whom are in their formative months on English soil.

They have certainly excelled, and thrived with the energy levels Ismael speaks of, in wins at Hull, Watford, Leicester, Bristol City and now Preston. It's a mightily impressive away record, second only to Coventry as of Friday night.

It's at home where they must replicate and restore serious hope of a successful season and that must start in midweek after a memorable night seven miles down the road.

Valerien Ismael wants to see winning "become an addiction" after Blackburn Rovers beat Lancashire rivals Preston North End in the Championship.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "In the Derby County game [2-1 defeat], in the second half we were on the front foot, we dominated, we were dominant again. It's just that consistency in the performance we were not able to do."

"I think if it's only 1-0 against Derby we would be able to come back into the game so we made it difficult in the first half. Southampton [2-1 win] we made it the same. So we spoke in the last two weeks about that consistency in our performance. This is what we needed."

He added: "We are a team, we are on the front foot, we play with energy and this is our DNA and we have to stay that way. If you win or lose a game, this is football, sometimes you cannot influence.

"What we can influence is what we perform on the pitch and that was what was our focus for the last two weeks and it for sure gave confidence to the players because winning games is one thing.

"Every team is able to win games, it's all about the next one, to win three, four, five, six, seven, eight games in a row, it has to become an addiction and now hopefully we can do the next step next week against QPR."

You can listen to more from Valerien Ismael on BBC Sounds.

If you're wondering where your team is going to finish in the Championship this season, you no longer need to worry.

Well, kind of.

Opta's supercomputer has worked its magic to figure out the most likely final league position of every team - and the chances each has of being promoted, making the play-offs or getting relegated.

Who is most likely to win automatic promotion?

It will come as no surprise that leaders Coventry are heavy favourites for the title (69.3%) and also have the highest chance of automatic promotion (84.2%) to the Premier League.

The next most likely to go straight up, with a 30.8% chance, are Middlesbrough. Despite currently sitting seventh and six points behind Boro in second, Ipswich are expected to be the third favourites for a top two finish (18.9%) followed by Stoke (14.1%).

Even though they've each enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, Preston (10.3%), Hull (6.1%) and Millwall (8.3%) have slimmer chances of finishing in an automatic promotion spot.

Who will make the play-offs?

Image source, Rex Features

Even if Coventry don't win automatic promotion, Opta's supercomputer has given the Sky Blues a 97.9% chance of a top-six finish, suggesting it's almost guaranteed.

Each of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Preston and Stoke are expected to finish in a minimum of a play-off position at least one in two times.

Hull might feel the hardest done by as they sit fifth currently, but are said to have less chance (32.3%) than Millwall (38.8%) and Charton (32.4%), who are below them in the table.

The most likely of the chasing pack to make a surge up the table are 12th-placed Leicester City, who have been given a 31.8% chance of finishing in the top six and are more likely than Bristol City (28.9%), Derby (22.9%) and Birmingham (19.9%).

Last season's beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United have just a 1.8% chance of recovering their season to make the play-offs again, while relegated Premier League side Southampton (12.5%) aren't likely to either... if you trust the supercomputer!

Who is going down?

Image source, Rex Features

It's probably not hard to work out who is most likely to finish bottom and be relegated to League One.

Sheffield Wednesday's 12-point deduction, which has left them 17 points adrift of safety on -4 points, means they're pretty much nailed on to finish bottom (84.8%) - and failing that, are almost certain to go down (98.2%).

Second from bottom Norwich are the next most likely candidates to fall through the trap door (58.5%) but Sheffield United, who currently occupy the final relegation spot, have just a 22.4% chance of going down and are considered more likely to stay up than Oxford (37.8%) and Portsmouth (31.3%).

We made it through another international break!

The Championship action resumes in style on Friday night (20:00 GMT) as high-flying Preston North End welcome lowly Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers to Deepdale.

The Lilywhites are unbeaten in four games and lie fourth but would climb into the automatic promotion places ahead of the Saturday programme with a derby win.

Rovers saw a three-match winning run ended by a home defeat to Derby in their final game before the international break and sit 19th, six points clear of the relegation zone.

• The last three league meetings between Preston and Blackburn at Deepdale have all been drawn with a different scoreline – 1-1 in 2022/23, 2-2 in 2023/24 and 0-0 last season.

• Following a 2-1 win in January, Blackburn Rovers are looking for consecutive league wins over Preston for the first time since doing the double over them in 2021/22.

• Preston North End have 26 points after 15 Championship games this season (W7 D5 L3), their most at this stage of a campaign since 2019/20 (28), going on to finish 9th that season.

• Blackburn Rovers have won their past two away league matches, their third different run of consecutive away wins under manager Valerien Ismael. They haven't won three in a row since a run of four in November and December 2024 under John Eustace.

• Each of Blackburn Rovers' past five Championship goals have been scored by either Andri Gudjohnsen (3) or Yuki Ohashi (2), with Ohashi looking to score in three appearances in a row for the first time

Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu says he and his team-mates are "fired up" for Friday's Championship meeting with local rivals Preston North End.

"The boys are raring to go," the right-back told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Obviously it's a big game. Everyone is fired up so we can't wait to go in front of the fans, show them what we can do, perform and just give a fight.

"The best games are the hardest ones.

"You want to play in these games and not hide away but go into it and show yourself so it's a great opportunity for us to get the three points."

You can listen to more from Ryan Alebiosu on BBC Sounds.

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire

Blackburn have been dealt another injury blow with defender Hayden Carter out for a period of time because of a calf injury.

Carter has played just once for Rovers this season, in the victory at Watford on 13 September, and had only recently returned to fitness after a hamstring problem.

"He's got another injury on his calf, so it will take him out for another period of time," manager Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire. "This one is a big frustration for me and for the player first.

"You count on Hayden; you see all the potential he has, but it seems that he is not able to come around the corner to stay fit, which is a big problem for us now. Hopefully he can now resolve his health issue.

"We wanted to count on him, to plan with him, but now time's flying. We're at the end of November, so we are not seeing him coming back before Christmas."

Ismael is looking at the January transfer market as a time to address Rovers' issues at the heart of their defence with Scott Wharton out until the early weeks of 2026 because of an Achilles issue.

"I think it's clear that with the injuries to Hayden and Scott, it's something we have to look at," he added.

In recent weeks, Rovers have recalled 22-year-old centre back George Pratt from a loan spell at Chorley and registered him in their squad, taking their total to 24.

Rovers will also play Preston North End without captain Todd Cantwell, who misses his seventh successive match with a knee injury.

"He's had a setback with his knee," Ismael added. "It's frustrating for him, and it's frustrating for us because it's actually not a big deal.

"The injury he's got is nothing major but takes him to solve a session, pain-free. That's why it will take him out another week.

"The good news is the last two days he's had some good sessions without pain. It gives a little bit more hope that he will be available next week."

Rovers now have midfielder Moussa Baradji back in training, and his debut could be close.

Baradji has been out since signing on a season-long loan deal from Swiss club Yverdon-Sport in August.

"He looks good; he trains fully with the team now," Ismael said. "Now he's available because he's in full training with the team. It's good news and what I expected.

"Now he's more ready for sure. It's about the game rhythm now, and when is the right time to get him back? With so many games in front of us, it's not really the right time, so we have to be creative with him, how can we integrate him?"

With the Championship relegation battle beginning to take shape, could the real decider be the transfer window?

"Who has the best January could be the difference here," BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor Andy Bayes said.

"I think Alan Nixon reported, external at the weekend that he thinks Blackburn Rovers have been given permission for three. For me, if they have, they've got to be three to go into the team.

"If you are looking for three new players, they have to recruit with some Championship experience because they did the opposite in the summer."

Rovers are 19th in the table, six points above the bottom three.

Former Blackpool forward Brett Ormerod believes it will be tough for three new additions to seamlessly integrate into the starting XI.

"It's a gamble for players to come in and hit the ground running. Very few players come in and hit the ground running unless they are playing in an exceptional team who just happen to be flying high," Ormerod said.

Listen to the full discussion and more Blackburn Rovers content on BBC Sounds.

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Shuttershock

Valerien Ismael says his Blackburn team paid a big price for last Tuesday night's victory at Bristol City. He was right.

Between the victory at Ashton Gate and the defeat on Saturday by Derby, two key players had been ruled out for a considerable period of time.

Goalkeeper Balasz Toth has already undergone surgery on his knee, keeping him out for at least a month, potentially more, and centre-back Scott Wharton will not play again in 2025 because of a torn Achilles tendon.

A look at the teamsheet on Saturday caused confusion for most. The main area in question was, if three players were going to be employed at centre-back, who would play alongside Lewis Miller and Sean McLoughlin?

The answer turned out to be Ryan Hedges - a versatile player who joked last week there are only two positions he's not played for the club: goalkeeper and centre-back.

Only one to go now, Ryan!

The loss of Wharton was keenly felt throughout the first half - he's been the most consistent central defender this season.

The second period saw Derby largely hold their opponents at arm's length until a clumsy challenge from Dion Sanderson presented Yuki Ohashi with a penalty that he put away.

As much as Ismael wanted his team to press for a leveller, his options on the bench were limited.

Makhtar Gueye was given his latest chance to prove he's deserving of a run in the side. He didn't pass the test. It's pretty clear Ismael doesn't see the number nine as the future, and a January move for him would be best for all parties, providing there is somebody to replace him.

I asked Ismael if a foray into the free agent market for another centre-back was a route he'd like to go down. He was clear in his response.

"No way. It makes no sense at the minute."

He went on to detail he'd been down that route when he was in charge of West Brom, and it didn't work.

The deadline-day departure of Dom Hyam to Wrexham, coupled with the subsequent change of system, has left Rovers painfully short of options at centre back.

When they return from the break, they'll have Hayden Carter ready. Without a doubt, his return will be a significant boost, and he deserves some better luck with his injury.

He started the first 11 league games of last season but has only featured in six since then. If Todd Cantwell can prove his fitness over the break and the return from suspension, things will look a little stronger for the trip to Preston.

On a positive note, a number of key figures from Rovers' past were at Ewood on Saturday to celebrate 150 years of the club.

Stalwarts like Simon Garner, Glenn Keeley and Derek Fazackerley were back in the stand with the rest of the returning heroes on the pitch for a 40-minute match against the Old Etonians in a re-run of the 1882 FA Cup Final.

There was a team containing Full Members Cup, League Cup, Premier League and promotion winners, as well as those who trod the boards in Europe.

Not the day that was hoped for in terms of Championship points, but a day to remember for those involved during the second match.

Image source, Getty Images

Blackburn Rovers have named former Liverpool and Rangers defender Gregory Vignal as the new head coach of their under-21 side.

The 44-year-old Frenchman won the UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FA Cup while playing for Liverpool under Gerard Houllier and also appeared for Portsmouth, Southampton, Birmingham City and Dundee United.

Vignal has coached within the academies at Montpellier, Marseille and Rangers as well as managing Rangers Women plus Versailles in his homeland.

He replaces Mike Sheron, who left Blackburn in September.

"To be the new under-21s head coach for Blackburn Rovers is an amazing feeling, because of the size and the history of this football club, and I believe this is one of the best academies in the country for producing top players," he told the club website., external

Blackburn Rovers head coach Valerien Ismael spoke BBC Radio Lancashire following Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Derby County.

"It was very frustrating, especially the first-half," he said.

"That's not what I expected from us. We end up 2-0 down without really knowing why, Derby didn't really [do] a lot.

"We lost the game in the first half. Why did we start like that and wait until we conceded the goals?

"I will take it as a learning process with this young team. Today was a game we needed to be good on the ball - we have to be on it."

Blackburn wing-back Ryan Hedges has spoken of the positivity around Ewood Park as Rovers go in search of a fourth straight Championship win.

Derby County are the visitors on Saturday (12:30 GMT) with the Rams having won four straight themselves under John Eustace, who controversially left Rovers to move to Pride Park in February.

After a five-match winless run, Blackburn's 1-0 victory at Bristol City on Tuesday followed a 2-0 success at Leicester and a first home win of the campaign the previous week to lift Valerien Ismael's side seven points clear of the relegation zone and within seven of the play-offs, with a game in hand.

"To get three on the bounce is really positive," Hedges, 30, told BBC Radio Lancashire. "I don't think heads dropped too much, the performances were there, we just weren't picking up the results, but it's a good place to be at the moment.

"Two clean sheets away from home show we have defensive capabilities and we have firepower at the top end of the pitch as well.

"We've lost key players over the summer, new players coming in take time to adapt to a new team, country and league but they've done well, everyone has played their part and you can see that coming to fruition."

Ahead of the reunion with his former boss, Wales international Hedges said he enjoyed working under Eustace at Ewood Park and added: "I think we were really unlucky with what happened (but) he made his decision, I felt we were in a good place at the time when he left."

Following the Rams encounter on Saturday, Rovers will mark the club's 150th anniversary with a Legends match against an Old Etonians XI, rekindling a rivalry born in the 1880s.

"It's a massive week for the club, it's up to us to put on a performance on the pitch first," said Hedges.

"There have been some superstars through the doors down the years and not many clubs can say they have won the Premier League - hopefully this team can have their own legacy and write their name in the history books."

Image source, Opta

Subplots galore as two of the Championship's form teams meet on Saturday lunchtime with red-hot Derby County heading to Blackburn Rovers (12:30 GMT).

It's a first return for John Eustace who swapped a play-off push at Ewood Park for a relegation scrap at Pride Park in February.

Eustace's Rams beat Hull City 2-1 on Tuesday to make it four straight league wins and climb to 11th, within three points of the play-off places.

Valerien Ismael's Rovers won 1-0 at Bristol City on the same night to register a third straight win and lie seven places but only four points back, with a game in hand, and now have a seven point cushion over the relegation zone.

• Blackburn Rovers have won each of their past six home league games against Derby County, since a goalless draw in October 2015.

• Derby County won 2-1 when they last faced Blackburn Rovers in March this year, last winning back-to-back league meetings with the Rovers in the 2014-15 campaign under Steve McClaren.

• Blackburn Rovers have won each of their past three league games, more wins than they managed across their first 10 Championship matches this season (W2 D1 L7) – they could win three in a row to nil for the first time since December 2024, a run of five under current Derby County boss John Eustace.

• Derby County are currently on the joint-longest winning run in the EFL (4 – level with Stockport County) and the Rams will be aiming to win five consecutive league games for the first time since December 2023 in League One.

• Carlton Morris has scored nine goals in his 14 league appearances for Derby County, more than he managed last season for Luton Town (8) – only in 2022-23 (20), 2023-24 (11) and 2020-21 (10) has the 29-year-old reached double figures in his league career.